Spyware Accountability Initiative - 2026 Open Call for Submissions

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND APPLY

The global marketplace for commercial spyware enables state-sponsored and non-state surveillance to track and intimidate human rights defenders, journalists, political dissidents, and environmental activists in virtually every region in the world. And every day these threats broaden and deepen.

While the industry remains lucrative and poses growing threats, efforts by researchers, advocates, lawyers and journalists are making an impact. Their work has spurred growing international momentum, with numerous governments making commitments to counter spyware proliferation, employing tools like sanctions, and engaging in multi-stakeholder processes to develop stronger regulations. Investigations have exposed abuses and led to real change for some targeted communities. These developments demonstrate the increasing opportunity to advance accountability despite ongoing harms.

The Spyware Accountability Initiative

The Spyware Accountability Initiative (SAI) is a philanthropic initiative to support civil society organizations that investigate, expose, and prevent spyware abuse and help bring accountability to global trade in surveillance technologies. Since 2023, SAI has provided over $12M in grants to more than 45 organizations around the world. SAI’s financial supporters include: Apple, Open Society Foundations, Okta for Good, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Ford Foundation, Luminate, Limelight Foundation, and the Google Vulnerability Rewards Program. SAI is a fiscally hosted project of the New Venture Fund.

During its first round of funding in 2023, the initiative has supported nearly two dozen organizations globally with a funding volume of over $4 million with more than half of the grant recipients working in the Global South / Global Majority. This continued in 2024 and 2025 with an additional $8M in grants. SAI grantees leverage regulation, litigation, and investigation to ensure that governments and corporations cannot use state-sponsored mercenary spyware to harm or unjustly surveil the civil society organizations that keep them in check. 

Building on these existing efforts, the Spyware Accountability Initiative will continue to support a range of strategies toward effective accountability for the trade and use of spyware and to strengthen the capacity of civil society groups working on this issue.

We invite concept notes from civil society organizations and individuals who are looking to seize current political opportunities to limit the proliferation of commercial spyware or seek to build and sustain capacity to engage on this critical issue.

Scope & Criteria

The goal of the Spyware Accountability Initiative (SAI) is to address the harms of the global spyware industry on civil society, through regulation, litigation, research and investigation and other means, to ensure such technologies cannot be used to harm or unjustly surveil civil society by the governments and corporations they aim to keep in check.

SAI’s funding strategy evolves over time. For this round of funding we have two tracks: (1) an open track to organizations who have not received SAI funding before, and (2) concept notes to renew, increase or otherwise extend funding to organizations who are already SAI grantees.

We also have two criteria, applicable to both tracks of funding:

• Applicants must demonstrate a proven track record in spyware accountability work.
• Applicants must not be solely reliant on SAI funding for their continued work on spyware accountability.

Applicants without a proven track record and without diversified financial support for spyware work will only be considered when they are focusing on a clear gap in geographic/community focus, topical expertise, or methodology/approach. This gap must be identified in the concept note.

We understand that the funding environment is challenging for many organizations. We hope this criteria helps you in deciding whether this call for concept notes is a good fit for your organization.

Track 1: New Funding Requests

This track is for new funding requests from organizations who have not received funding from SAI. This track is also open to programs or teams within existing grantee organizations who have not received funding for spyware-related activities. Grant requests may be for $25k to $100k and term lengths of 6 months to 2 years.

We have supported significant growth in the capacity of civil society to address spyware accountability but we recognize that there continue to be key gaps in this capacity. This includes a lack of global diversity in spyware accountability organizations, uneven capacities on regulatory advocacy, policy advocacy, litigation and even well developed areas where more reinforcement of capacity is needed. We also recognize that there are emerging areas of concern, including but not limited to the potential impact that AI-assisted software development may have on both the proliferation and detection of spyware.

Areas of work that may qualify for funding include:

• Threat intelligence and research capabilities focused on spyware technologies against civil society and social movements.

• Building organizational capacity of both existing and emergent civil society cybersecurity research and advocacy groups, and increasing field coordination.

• Building the capacity of human rights defenders and journalists - individuals, organizations, and networks - to improve visibility, identify and respond to spyware attacks.

• Coordinated strategic sharing of information, research and best practices on advanced threats among response organizations.

• Advocacy or litigation strategies and interventions focused on the global spyware trade, use of advanced spyware against civil society, and accountability of corporations responsible for the proliferation of these technologies.

• Enabling civil society to more effectively partner with device manufacturers, software developers, commercial security firms, and other relevant companies to identify and address vulnerabilities as well as the design and implementation of protections that directly address the risks and harms of spyware.

• Implementation, management and use of technical infrastructure that takes advantage of threat intelligence to identify and contain targeted incidents, and that facilitate the sharing of intelligence across the field.

• Investigation and support for the harms and consequences of spyware. This may include: developing psychosocial support programs for high-risk individuals and organizations, understanding the longer term harms that are experienced by individuals and organizations following targeted spyware attacks, and researching the impact of spyware technologies on democratic societies.

• Support for additional safety and security measures directly related to proposed work in any of the areas of work listed above.

• Raising awareness and developing strategies to mitigate the impact of lawfare tactics by hostile actors against civil society organizations and individuals, such as intentionally abusing the legal system to discredit and harm civil society groups working on spyware accountability.

• Coalition and network building to strengthen coordination and collaboration in the global spyware accountability field.

• Research and development on the impact of AI technologies on spyware development, vulnerability supply chains, and the detection and defense of spyware.

What is not being considered for this round of funding:

• New end-user technology development (i.e., new secure messaging applications)

• Generally addressing the cybersecurity needs of civil society through trainings, capacity building, etc.

• Organizations and projects where the impact on spyware accountability is incidental, rather than central, to its primary goals.

This 2023 report from Freedman Consulting may be a helpful way to orient the landscape of work that is possible and needed for global spyware accountability.

Please note that due to requirements under US law, the fund is not able to support lobbying activities. You can learn more about what does and does not constitute lobbying in this guide.

The submission questions for this track are:

1. Tell us about your organization and how the proposed spyware accountability work relates to its mission or strategy. (250 words)
   This may include: your mission statement, your geographic focus (if any), your experience in this field, your proximity to impacted communities, or other areas of work you focus on.

2. Tell us about your funding request. What do you propose to do? (250 words)
   Tell us about the work you plan to do should you receive this grant. How does your proposed work relate to the criteria of this Spyware Accountability Initiative open call?

3. How would you describe success with this grant, and what are some of the indicators you would like to see by the end of it? (250 words)
   Note that these can be programmatic goals, such as influencing policy or convening other actors in this field, operational goals, such as increasing your organization's capabilities for this work, or both.

4. What do you see as your organization’s primary role in the broader spyware accountability ecosystem, and how have you worked with others to advance the field? (250 words)
   This may include detailing how your work fits into a broader field strategy, sharing examples of key partners and your work with them, or sharing your approach to field capacity building.

5. Why are you requesting this grant amount & what challenges might you face? (250 words)
   We’re interested in the reasoning for your grant request amount and what challenges you expect in executing this work. For example, are there areas of work in which you need to further develop expertise? Are there challenges in hiring staff to do this work? How do you anticipate managing these challenges?

Track 2: Renewals, Increases and Extensions

This track is only open to organizations who have received a grant from SAI and who are seeking to continue the work supported by that grant. Grant requests may be for $50k to $300k and term lengths of 1 to 3 years.

Submissions to this track allow for extensions, increases or full grant renewals of any amount within the given range and any time range. This is an open and flexible track meant to meet the needs of existing grantees. In order to be eligible for Track 2 submissions, you must be up to date on your grant reporting. 

If you need other modifications to your current grant, such as no-cost extensions, adjustments to deliverables, budget changes, etc please contact New Venture Fund directly to seek approval as these changes can be made at any time. This submission process is only for changes which require additional funding in some form.

The submission questions for this track are:

1. Tell us about your organization and its ongoing work on spyware accountability. (250 words)
   This may include: your mission and goals, how spyware accountability work is integrated into your organization, your geographic focus, your proximity to impacted communities, your other related areas of work, etc.

2. Tell us about your accomplishments during the grant period of your recent SAI grant, including any key lessons learned. (250 words)
   We understand impact comes in many forms. Focus on what you see as significant achievements and learnings.

3. Tell us about your funding request for this renewal, increase, or extension: what activities or capacities are you requesting support for, and why is this support needed now? (250 words)
   Proposed work does not need to be entirely new and can represent ongoing efforts or adjustments to your original scope.

4. What do you see as your organization’s primary role in the broader spyware accountability ecosystem, and how have you worked with others to advance the field? (250 words)
   This may include detailing how your work fits into a broader field strategy, sharing examples of key partners and your work with them, or sharing your approach to field capacity building.

5. Why are you requesting this grant amount and how will you ensure the ongoing sustainability of your spyware accountability work? (250 words)
   We’re interested in the reasoning for your grant request and how you plan to maintain stability of this work, such as financial or operational sustainability. We also appreciate your clear-eyed understanding of potential challenges (e.g., funding uncertainty, shifting political landscapes).

Additional required questions for both tracks include:

• Requested Grant Amount: $USD

• What is the grant term you are seeking?

• What is the approximate annual budget for your organization?

• What, if any, is your approximate annual budget for spyware accountability work at your organization?

• Who would be the programmatic lead for your work on spyware accountability under this grant?

• Approximately how many staff are dedicated (full or part-time) spyware accountability work?

• Additional Files (Optional) - You are welcome to share supplemental information about your organization or your proposed work. This is not necessary and we do not guarantee all supplemental material will be reviewed.

• Are you comfortable with us sharing your concept note with other funders who may be interested in your work?